Apparatus for forming hollow or tubular articles.



J. P. SNEDDN.

APPARATUS Fn Formms, HoLLowoR TquL/m ARTICLES.

' v (Application med Apr. 121901.)

(No Model.)

Patented FsbJl, |902.

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JAMES iasNEDDoN,y or BARBERTON,

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PATENT OFFICE.

OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE STIRLING COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A

.. APPARATUS FIOR FoRMlNG-HOLLOW ORYTUBULAR ART|oLr-;s.

SPECIFICATION 'forming part of Letters Patent N o. 693,175, dated February 1 1, 1902.

Application ledApril l2, 1901. Serial No. 55,543. (No model.) i

2'0 a/ZZ whom t may concern: n

Be it known that I, JAMES P. SNEDDoN, a residentvof Barberton, in thev county of Summit and State of Ohio,` have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Forming Hollow or Tubular Articles Provided with a Diaphragm; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,'clear, andexact description thereof.

My invention relates to apparatus for forming hollow or tubular metal articles, such as serpentine boiler-headers and similar articles, and more especially to such articles provided v with a longitudinal transverse diaphragm.

In Niclausse and Durr boilers the watertubes comprise an outer water-tube and an inner circulating-tube, both of which are connected to the same header, and in consequence of which the header is provided with a longitudinal diaphragm forming two compartments or passages inthe header, with 011e of which the outer water-tubes communicate and with the other of which the inner circulating-tubes communicate, the object of'this diaphragm being to separate the two currents of circulation or the uptake and downtake, as theyV are called, in the header.

these headers of wrought-iron or steel. Prior to my invention, however, it has not been possible to form serpentineheaders having a diaphragm in any oth'er manner than by casting.

The object of my invention i's to provide suitable apparatus whereby these headers maybe formed of wrought-iron or steel; and to this end it comprises the use, in combination with suitable shaping-dies, of an internal mandrel or support for the tube, said mandrel or support serving to hold the diaphragm in place while the walls of the tube are pressed down on the edges of the diaphragm to secure the latter in place and also serving to support the interior of the tube against collapseunder the forging or shaping pressure of the external dies.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a longitudinal vertical section of one form of mandrel suitable for this'purpose. Fig. 2 is' a longitudinal horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of a modified form ot' mandrel. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal'section o f the same. Fig. 5 is a side view, and Fig 6 an end View, of the tube employed. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section 'of the dies, mandrel, and tube. Fig.l S is a transversesection of the same. FigJJ is asectional detail illustrating one mannerof securing the diaphragm, and Fig. lO is a sectional detail illustrating the manner in which this is done) I have illustrated my invention as used inl or obliquely across the bottom and top faces y in order to adapt the header to the inclined position 0f the water-tubes ofthe boiler. Incase, however, the headeris to be used with a boiler having horizontal tubes, these corrugations 4 will extend straight across the top and bottom faces of the mandrel. n walls of the mandrel are provided with theA openings 5 in order to lighten thesame, and in order to strengthen `thehollow mandrelbody the same may bepro'vided withtransverse webs 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, o1' transverse struts 7, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These internal supports, whether webs lor struts,extend in a substantially vertical line between the corrugated top and bottom faces of the mandrel-in order to receive the direct thrust of the forging-dies, as will hereinafter appear. The webs 6 (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) The side are shown as extending diagonally across the mandrelbody between the side Walls to correspond to the oblique or diagonal arrangement of the corrugations LLas above explained.

The mandrel-body is formed in two or more longitudinal sections S S, the number of said sections depending on the number of diaphragms to be secured in the article, said body being divided on a vertical plane. The meeting faces of these sections are shown stepped or jogged, as at 9, in order to conform to the shape of the diaphragm 10, the latter having a stepped or jogged shape in order to provide faces 1l, which are at rightangles to the inclined water-tubes of the boiler, said faces being provided with the openings 12, through which pass the circulating-tubes of the boiler, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The dies for shaping the header or other article are shown in Figs. 7 and S, and the same comprise a stationary bottom die 13 and a movable top die 14, both of which are corrugated transversely to correspond to the corrugations of the mandrel, said corrugations, if necessary, being also inclined or oblique, as shown. If, however, the header is to be adapted for boilers having horizontal watertubes, these corrugations will run straight across the dies, the same as the corrugations 4 on the mandrel and the Webs (i therein. 15 represents a stationary side die, the same being preferably formed integral with the bottom die 13; but this is not necessary. Said side die is provided with a fiat face, as shown, and 16 represents a movable side die formed with a similar dat face. The die 14 is moved, preferably, by means of a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) or equivalent means, and the die 16 is likewise preferably moved by a hydranlic cylinder, although it may be moved by a Wedge or any other means. The tube 17 used for the formation of these headers is rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The diaphragm is brought to the desired shape in any suitable way,and when the headerisserpentine in form the diaphragm is made with serpentine edges to conform substantially to the shape of the finished header. This diaphragm is made about one thirty'second of an inch Wider than the Vheight of the mandrel and is placed between the sectionsS thereof, and then together with these sections is slipped into the squared tube 17, which has first been raised to a suitable forging heat, and placed, together with the same, upon the bottom die 13, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The side die 16 is then moved up against the tube 17 and inclosed mandrel, and the die let is then brought down to compress the Walls of the tube against the mandrel, thereby shap ing the header and at the same time pressing the top and bottom walls of the tube against the edges of the diaphragm 10, so that the latter will become embedded in said top and bottom walls, as shown in Fig. 8, thereby forming a secu re fastening for said diaphragm in the header.

In the shaping of the header the metal in the side walls between the points 1S and 19 must be upset into the metal between the points 19 and 20, or, in other Words, the height of the side walls of the tube must be reduced an amount equal to the distance between the points 1S and 19. In order to properly upset the metal to this amount and leave the Walls of uniform thickness, it is desirable that the side die 16 be at first brought against the side of the tube ,but lightly and then after the die 14 has been brought down the said side die will be pressed rmly against the'side of the tube, thereby smoothing out and properly shaping the upset metal in the side walls of the tube. In carrying out the invention it may even be found desirable to give the dies 14; and 16 alternate slight inward and outward movements in order to effect a better upsetting and shaping of this metal, and it is for this reason that the side die 16 should be moved by means of a hydraulic cylinder or other means which will permit its ready inward and outward movement.

After the forging or shaping of the headeris completed the sidedie 16 is moved back and the top die 14E raised, and the said header is then removed from the dies and another put in its place and the operation repeated. The mandrel-sections 8 are then broken out by means of a bar or similar device, and the broken pieces are again taken to the melting pot and used in the casting of other mandrels. The said mandrel offers a rigid support to the thrust of the forging or shaping dies, and therefore it is practically impossible for the header to collapse at one or more points. The man drel-sections, furthermore, are readily removable, and inasmuch as the metal can again be used the cost of said mandrel-sections is practically only the cost of forming and pouring the molds therefor.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide additional securing means for the diaphragm, and as such means the said diaphragm may be formed with the edge projections or teats 21, (shown in Fig. 7,) which projections are located in the concave edge portions of the diaphragm, so as not to require au additional-sized tube 17,V which edge portions 2l are caused to embed themselves in the top and bottom walls of the header, thereby holding the diaphragm very securely in place. made long enough, as shown at 22, Fig. 10, to penetrate the walls of the header and to be upset on the outside thereof, as shown at 23, Fig. 9, so that the said projections 22, together with the diaphragm 10, form a tie be tween the top and bottom walls of the header and strengthen the same against heavy internal pressure, as will be readily understood.

While I have shown my invention applied to the formation of serpentine wrought-metal These edge projections may be IOO IIO

-pentine in longitudinal section or not.

vheaders provided with a diaphragm, I wish it understood that it is not limited thereto, but may be'used in the formation of wroughtmetal headers of other than serpentine form or of any other tubular wrought-metal articles provided with a diaphragm, whether such articles are rectangular in cross-section or ser- In these modifications of my invention it will only be necessary to change the shape of the mandrel-sections and of the dies to correspond to the shape of the article desired to be formed. I also wish it understood that my invention is not limited tothe use of the particular sectional mandrel shown nor to one having but two longitudinal sections, it being sufcientfor myinvention that the diaphragm is supported in position to have the walls of the tube pressed thereagainst and that the said tube be given such internal support as will prevent its collapse during the forging process.

The method shown and described is not claimed herein, but is claimed in another application of even date herewith, Serial No. 55,542.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In apparatus for forming.wrought-metal tubular articles having a diaphragm, the combination of a support adapted to be inserted in the tube and constructed to support the diaphragm in place, and dies adapted to press on the exterior of the tube, shape the same, and press the walls thereof onto the edges of the diaphragm.

2. In apparatus for forming wrought-metal tubular articles having a diaphragm, the combination of a su pport comprisinglongitudinal sections adapted to receive the diaphragm therebetween and support the same in place in the tube, and dies adapted to press on the exterior of the tube, shape the same, and press the walls thereof onto the edges ofthe diaphragm.

3. In apparatus for forming wrought-metal tubular articles having a diaphragm, the combination of a mandrel provided with transverse corrugations and adapted to be inserted in the tube and constructed to support the diaphragm in place, and dies provided with corresponding corrugations adapted io press on the `exterior of the tube, sha-pe the same, and press Athe walls thereof onto the edges of the diaphragm.

4. In apparatus for forming wrought-metal tubular articles having a diaphragm, the combination of a mandrel lof 'serpentine form adapted to be inserted in the tube and constructed to support the diaphragm in place, and dies provided with corrugations corresponding to the form of the mandrel and adapted to press on the exterior of the tube, shape the same, and press the walls thereof onto the edges of the diaphragm.

so as to be removed from the article after it is shaped.

6. A mandrel for-use in forming wroughtmetal tubular articles having a diaphragm, the same comprising a rigid destructible sup-V port composed of longitudinal sections adapt. ed to receive the diaphragm between them and hold the same in place in the tube.

7. A mandrel for use in forming wroughtmetal tubular articles having a diaphragm, the same comprising a rigid destructible support of serpentine form composed of longitudinal sections adapted to receive the diaphragm between them and hold the same in place in the tube.

8. A mandrel for use in forming wrought# met-al tubular articles having a diaphragm, the same comprising a hollow body provided with internal transverse supports, and composed of longitudinal sections adapted to receive the diaphragm between them and hold the same in place in the tube.

9. A mandrel for use in forming'wrought-- metal tubular articles having a diaphragm, the same comprising a hollow destructible body having corrugated upper and lower faces, and provided with internal transverse supports extending between the corrugated faces, said body being composed of longitudinal sections adapted to receive the diaphragm between them and hold the same in place in the tube.

l0. A mandrel for use in forming wroughtmetal tubular articles having a diaphragm, the same comprisinga hollow cast-metal body provided with transverse internal supports, and composed of longitudinal sections adapted to receive the diaphragm between.l them andhold the same in place in the tube.

Il. A mandrel for use in forming wroughtmetal tubular articles having a diaphragm,V the same comprising longitudinal sections having stepped or j ogged meeting faces adapt ed to receive the diaphragm between them and hold the same in place in the tube.

12. A mandrel for use in forming wroughtmetal tubular articles having a diaphragm,

, the same comprising a rigid destructible supL port of serpentine form, and composed of two longitudinal sections having stepped or jogged meeting faces adapted to receive the diaphragm between them and hold the same in place in the tube.

^ In testimony whereof I, the said JAMES I). SNEDDON, have hereunto set my hand.

' JAS. P. SNEDDON.

Witnesses:

O. D. EVERHARD, E. E. BAKER.

IOO 

